At its August meeting, Boorowa Council considered a report on asbestos which contained a draft asbestos policy, as well as addressing concerns over the potential of loose-fill asbestos insulation, existing within the Boorowa Local Government Area  (LGA). 

In recent months there has been growing media coverage on the issue of loose-fill asbestos insulation, in particular “Mr Fluffy” installations. 

The ACT Government has been proactive in recognising the potential health impacts associated with Mr Fluffy, as well as developing a program to ensure that public safety is adequately addressed. 

It is only recently that the NSW Government has taken action to address the potential extent of Mr Fluffy installations across the state and in particular the region surrounding the ACT where Mr Fluffy is known to have operated. 

The action taken by the State was to provide a free inspection program to residents within selected LGAs where there was reason to believe the Mr Fluffy insulation had been installed. 

Unfortunately the initial program did not include the Boorowa LGA. 

“With the media coverage that had been surrounding what was occurring within the ACT, I had residents contact me that were concerned they may too have had Mr Fluffy installed on their property around the time it was known to have occurred in the ACT,” Boorowa Council mayor Wendy Tuckerman said. 

“Upon investigation I found that our community was not considered by the state to be included in their inspection program which was obviously extremely concerning.”

The LGAs included in the program included Geater Hume, Berrigan, Wagga Wagga, Bega Valley, Snowy River, Cooma Monaro, Eurobodalla, Snowy Mountains, Palerang, Queanbeyan, Yass Valley, Goulburn, Young, Ku-ring-gai and North Sydney Councils. 

As a result of concerns within the community Mayor Tuckerman contacted State Member for Burrinjuck Katrina Hodgkinson who quickly responded. 

“After writing to Minister Hodgkinson I am extremely pleased with the quick response from her office, that Boorowa has been added to the LGAs listed as eligible for the inspection program,” Cr Tuckerman said. 

The details of the program are not yet known with Boorowa’s mayor and general manager scheduled to meet with representatives from Local Government NSW and WorkCover mid-September to better understand what the program means for the community. 

“At this stage we don’t have a lot of detail on the program, just as we are not sure of the extent, if any, of the issue within our LGA,” CrTuckerman said. 

If any residents have immediate concerns they are advised to call WorkCover to seek advice.